Friction clutch



Oct. 7, 19370.

Jf F. DAUKUS FRICTION CLUTCH Filed June 30, 1927 ov .1 n 5 w n f /,y 1m N @ai v lm NN USEII. E run. um J NN N n lll u m IM d l W QN -v I- I QN k\ Y* m. |Ul. m. WN .T :IHPIIMI f/ Ek @Houd ma v struction.

- Patented oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES somfr. DAUKUS, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN mcrIoN CLUTCH:

Application led J'une 30,

in such a manner that it will not chatter when brought into engagement `with its driving er. The device is constructed particu# larl for automobiles'but it is nevertheless use ul in other instances where a coupling by means of a friction clutch is to be effected.

In resent devices of analogous construction t ere is provided an entirelyrigid clutch plate which is incapable of yielding when initially applied `to the driving member. Consequently the slippage between the driving member and clutch plate, due to the inertia of the latter, causes an alternating gripping and releasing action between the driving member and clutch plate with the resultthat a chattering effect occurs in the clutch mechanism. This defect is overcome inthe present invention by forming the clutch plate in such a manner, that it will slightly yield when first applied to the 4driving member. Due to this yieldability, the engagement between the clutch plate and driving member is not interrupted as stated above but is gradual until the parts are in complete driving engagement and in motion at the same speed.

The invention'is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a clutch mechanism constructed according to the'invention; l.

. Fig. 2'is an elevation of the clutch member;

Fig. 3 is an edge view; and

Fig. 4 is lan elevation of a modified con- Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters' which are employed to designate corresponding parts' throughout.

In-Figure 1 is illustrated'a drive shaftl 1 -and a ropeller shaft 2in alignment therewith. he drive shaft carries a. recessed fly- Wheel 3, and the propeller shaft has an end pin 4 which enters an end of theV drive shaft and is ada ted to turn loosel therein.. The propeller sh 5 on which is mounted a slidable collar 6..

0 Between the collar anda flange 7 at one end conslderable inertia resistin aft. is surrounded y a fixed sleeve T 1927. semi No. 202,308'.

of the sleeve is mounted a spring 8 which normally retracts the member'.

The inner end of the propeller shaft 2 car ries a clutch member 9 disposed in the recess l() of the flywheel and adapted to engage a face 11 thereof. Over the recess is secured a cap member 12 having a series of cups 13 in which are seated springs 14. These springs bear against a ring 15 which is normall moved against the other side of the clutc member. From the ring 15 a pin 16 extends through the cap 12 and is fitted at its outer end ,withV a lever 17. The lever has a lug 18 bearing on a plate 19 secured to the cap and has its free end 20 in engagement with the inner end of the slidable collar 6.

The springs 14 normally hold the clutch member-9 in engagement with the face 11 of the flywheel so that the propeller shaft is drivenby the drive shaft 1. When it is desired to release the connection between the two shafts, the collar 6 is moved inwardly on the sleeve 5 against the action ofthe spring 8 by any suitable mechanism. This movement causes the lever 17 to turn on the lu 18 as a pivot and to retract the ring 15. rom the clutch member against the action of the springs 14 whereby engagement-between the' clutch member an fl wheel is released.

When it is desire to 'return the clutch member into engagement with the face 11, the

collar 6 iszreleased so that it is retracted by the spring 8, and the springs 14 are now free to move the ring 15v towards the face 11 and to v clamp the clutch member against this face. The propeller shaft 2, being at rest, will have clutch member with the clutch lmember is entirely rigid, there will be lchattering as a result of the conditions a1- rotation ofthe ywheel. If the readydescribed. f The possibility of chatter ing 1s overcome'by constructin the clutch member in the manner illustrate more clears ly in Figures 2, 3 and 4. This member includes a plate 21 which-Is preferably circular and formed with a series of openings -22 around-the centerjthereof. v

hese openin leavea marginal portion 23 A around the e ge of the plate and are prefer-- ably closely spaced in order` tol form narrow arms 24therebetween. These arms may be angular to the radius of the plate as illus- -trated or may lie in radii of the late. The

rim 23 is slotted at 25 from an e ge of each opening 22 alongside one of the arms 24. Finally, friction rings 26 are applied to thel rim 23 at both faces thereof, and the parts are firmly secured together by rivets 27. The

rim 23, at the edges of the slots 25, is preferably bent laterally or outwardly from the `glane of the plate as indicated by the numeral ing during the initial engagement between the clutch member and the flywheel. This yieldability is further facilitated by the slots 25 out through .the rim 23. In this manner movement in the clutch member is possible during its initial engagement with the flywheel, although the entire clutch member may not rotate bodily until the inertia of the propeller shaft is substantially overcome.

During the limited movement of the rim by the flexing of the arms'24, the inertia of the propeller shaft is at least partially overcome so that chattering is avoided. I

In Figure 4 is illustrated a construction, wherein the clutch plate is an assembled member rather than a unitary member as shown in Figure 2. The device in Figure 4 is comprised of a central plate 30 and a series of segmental members 31 which form a rim around the plate `and a s ace 32 therebetween. The segments 31 are s ightly spaced from one another to form slots 33 corresponding to the slots 25 and are provided each with an arm 34 at one end brid in the space 32 and secured to the centra p ate 30 by studs 34. The arms 34 are sufficiently narrow to permit flexing under the conditions described in connection with the arms 24 of Figure 2.

Friction rings 35 are secured -to both faces ofthe segments 31 by means of rivets 36. The segments may be bent' laterally at theA slots 33 in the manner described in connection with Figures 2 and 3, if desired.

Although s eciiic embodiments of the invention have een illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of4 construction maybe made without departing from the scope of the`invention as indicated by the appended claim.

What Iclaim is A clutch plate having a series of openings around its center and between the center and periphery thereof, said openings being spaced from each other to form narrow arms, said arms lyingangularly to radii of the plate, said plate also having slots extending from the respective openings to the periphery,.and disposed in prolongation of an edge .of the respective communicating opening.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOI-IN F. DAU IUS. 

